The Sixers have added new complementary pieces around their core of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and James Harden.
As the 2022-23 season approaches, our editors will cover intriguing topics around the league.
Which team improved its roster the most this offseason?
Steve Aschburner: Boston. Malcolm Brogdon meets a specific need in the Celtics rotation which is filled with battle-tested veterans. Danilo Gallinari would have added another dimension to the list, without ACL injury he suffered during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. For me, Minnesota adding Gobert and Cleveland getting the other ex-Utahn, Donovan Mitchell, poses as many questions as answers. Brooklyn has gotten better at not tearing itself apart, but it will be a while before we know if the Nets’ spirit is correct.
Brian Martin: While we’ve seen other teams acquire All-Stars via trade – Dejounte Murray to Atlanta, Rudy Gobert to Minnesota, Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland – Philadelphia retained an All-Star at a discount price in order to do some more shopping in free agency. James Harden’s new two-year deal (with a player option for next season) at below market value gave general manager Daryl Morey and the 76ers the financial room to add a few key players to fill out the roster. trio featuring Kia MVP finalist Joel Embiid, former MVP. Harden and rising star Tyrese Maxey. It’s a bit of a Rockets reunion with free agents PJ Tucker and Danuel House from the Harden/Morey era in Houston. in the fold. The addition of this duo with De’Anthony Melton (from the Memphis Grizzlies) helps strengthen the Sixers’ perimeter defense and 3-point shooting.
Marc Medina: It is the Cleveland Cavaliers who have improved their squad the most this offseason. After all, Cleveland landed a three-time All-Star guard still in his prime (Donovan Mitchell) from Utah. Of course, the Jazz extracted a lot from Cleveland, including young talent (Collin Sexton via sign and trade, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji), unprotected first-round picks (2025, ’27, ’29) and trades of choice (’26, ’28). But the Cavs still retained most of their core group: last season’s Kia Rookie of the Year finalist (Evan Mobley), an All-Star guard (Darius Garland), an All-Star center (Jarrett Allen ) and a former All-Star. Star who adapted to a backup role (Kevin Love). Cleveland has yet to reach the top of the Eastern Conference as the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have booked that space. By acquiring Mitchell, however, Cleveland should move up to No. 6 after getting hot in the Play-In Tournament last season.
Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff has a new star to build around in former Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell.
Shaun Powell: The choice here would have been the merged Boston Celtics with Malcolm Brogdon if Danilo Gallinari I wasn’t hurt, or the Atlanta Hawks with Dejounte Murray, or perhaps the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets, both on the same level as the first players. But when a three-time All-Star who is always on top is dealt to a team, then we have a winner. Donovan Mitchell puts the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were a Play-In team last season, firmly in the second tier of Eastern Conference powers. On the surface, it doesn’t seem so glorious…until you understand that it’s going to take more than that to make the Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets sweat. Maybe that will happen in two seasons, when the young core around Mitchell starts to flex more muscle.
John Schumann: Philadelphia. Rudy Gobert is clearly the most influential player to change teams, but the Sixers rounded out their rotation with the additions of PJ Tucker, De’Anthony Melton, Montrezl Harrell and Danuel House. Harrell is the only one without shooting around the Sixers’ two stars, but he’s scored 1.33 points per possession as a roll man over the last five years and can be a great pick-and-ball partner. roll for James Harden (a role he already had) when Joel Embiid goes to the bench. The Sixers’ success will ultimately depend on Harden’s ability to play like a star in the playoffs, but this team is now incredibly deep and versatile, with the ability to be a top-five finish on either end of the court if Embiid remains relatively healthy. .
Michael C. Wright: It’s hard to say. Cleveland resolved its Collin Sexton dilemma by trading him and landing Donovan Mitchell to add him to a young, talented core of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The Cavs now have some Ferraris in the backcourt and some elite rim protectors. James Harden sacrificed some in Philadelphia so Daryl Morey could come out and add some toughness to PJ Tucker. Trading the Sixers for De’Anthony Melton was also a low-key and smart move. As someone based in San Antonio who watched Defeat Murray grow essentially over the years, his addition to Atlanta makes the Hawks the most improved team this offseason. Murray gives Atlanta a defensive presence on the perimeter, while allowing Trae Young to stay fresher during off-ball games. It’s like Atlanta killed two birds with one stone by adding Murray (a defensive guard and secondary playmaker).
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